Utah Sports News
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UTAH SPORTS NEWS Jon M. Huntsman Center • 1825 E. South Campus Dr. Associate Athletics Director/SID: Liz Abel Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0900 Associate SID: Mike Lageschulte Phone 801.581.3511/3510 • Fax 801.581.4358 Assistant SID: Andy Seeley www.UtahUtes.com Assistant SID: Scott Pettett Offi ce Manager: Sally Anderson Feb. 7, 2006 For Immediate Release Contact: Liz Abel, Associate Athletics Director (801-581-3511) UTE FOOTBALL TEAM ANNOUNCES 2007 RECRUITS Utes sign 25 new players. SALT LAKE CITY— Head coach Kyle Whittingham received 20 signed National Letters of Intent today, which combined with fi ve mid-year junior college signees, brings Utah’s 2007 football class to 25. The recruits include 18 high school and seven junior college players. With just four defensive starters returning from last season’s Armed Forces Bowl champion team, the majority of the scholarships tendered were for defensive players. The Utah coaches addressed their biggest need by signing eight defensive backs – the most of any position. They’re bringing in four defensive linemen and four linebackers, as well. The offensive position that picked up the most new players was quarterback, where junior Brian Johnson and senior Tommy Grady are the only scholarship returners. Of the three incoming quarterbacks, Griff Robles plans to serve an LDS church mission before enrolling in school. Outside of quarterback, virtually all of Utah’s offensive skill players return from 2006, leaving one scholarship for a wide receiver, two for running backs (freshman Eddie Wide is listed as a combination running back/defensive back) and two for tight ends. Said Whittingham, “We’re excited about our recruiting efforts this year and feel we’ve put together another solid class. Our basic philosophy of recruiting the most talented players, regardless of position, and being willing to move guys around has not changed. This year’s recruiting emphasis was on the defensive side of the ball. We lost several starters from last year’s team but feel we were able to offset those losses with our defensive signees. “We were also very pleased with the success rate we had as far as getting players committed in relation to the number of offi cial visits that were made to our campus. This success was due not only to the hard work of our assistant coaches, but also the great job our players already in the program did in hosting the visiting athletes. “We made a concerted effort to recruit Texas and we feel we accomplished this objective with the fi ve players we were able to sign. Of course, we always look fi rst at the best talent in the state of Utah, and California and Hawaii are longtime recruiting hotbeds for us.” California recruits led the way with 11 signing on with the Utes, followed by Texas (fi ve) and Utah (four). Other states represented are Hawaii and Nevada, with two each, and Virginia, with one. Of the fi ve junior college players to sign during the mid-year period, three are enrolled at Utah for spring semester: defensive lineman Koa Misi, defensive back Deshawn Richard and quarterback Chad Manis. Two others – defensive backs Robert Johnson and Josh Broughton – are expected to join the team later. Freshmen planning to serve LDS church missions prior to enrolling in school include Robles, defensive back Mike Honeycutt and tight end Westlee Tonga. -roster and bios follow- www.UtahUtes.com 2007 UTAH FOOTBALL RECRUIT BIOS 2007 UTAH FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS Name Pos. Hgt. Wgt. Yr. Exp. Hometown/Last School James Aiono DL 6-3 245 Fr. HS West Valley City, Utah, Utah/Murray HS Matt Asiata RB 6-0 235 Jr. JC West Valley City, Utah/Snow College Jereme Brooks WR 5-9 165 Fr. HS League City, Texas/Clear Creek HS Josh Broughton DB 5-11 185 Jr. JC Virginia Beach, Va./Citrus College Brandon Burton DB 6-0 172 Fr. HS Houston, Texas/Clear Creek HS Louis Finner OL 6-3 289 Fr. HS Plano, Texas/Plano East HS Nai Fotu DE 6-1 232 Fr. HS Laie, Hawaii/Kahuku HS Mike Honeycutt DB 5-11 150 Fr. HS Cedar Hills, Utah/Lone Peak HS Robert Johnson DB 6-3 176 So. JC Los Angeles, Calif./L.A. Southwest College Jamel King LB 6-3 217 Fr. HS Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta HS Corbin Louks QB 6-0 171 Fr. HS Danville, Calif./San Ramon Valley HS Chad Manis QB 6-5 201 So. JC Lakewood, Calif./Cerritos College Koa Misi DL 6-3 253 So. JC Santa Rosa, Calif./Santa Rosa JC Mo Neal LB 6-2 205 Fr. HS Oakland, Calif./San Leandro HS Deshawn Richard DB 6-1 192 Jr. JC Las Vegas, Nev./Victor Valley College Griff Robles QB 6-5 220 Fr. HS Spanish Fork, Utah/Spanish Fork HS Dallin Rogers TE 6-4 210 Fr. HS Placerville, Calif./Union Mine HS Thor Salanoa LB 6-2 187 Fr. HS Honolulu, Hawaii/Radford HS Derrick Shelby DE 6-3 201 Fr. HS Houston, Texas/Hightower HS Lei Talamaivao DT 6-2 272 Fr. HS Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga HS Damilyn Tanner DB 5-10 175 Jr. JC Sacramento, Calif./El Camino College Justin Taplin-Ross LB 6-3 198 Fr. HS Murrieta, Calif./Vista Murrieta HS Westlee Tonga TE 6-4 211 Fr. HS Spring, Texas/Spring HS Reggie Topps DB 5-11 164 Fr. HS Prunedale, Calif./N. Monterey County HS Eddie Wide RB/DB 5-10 170 Fr. HS Las Vegas, Nev./Cimarron Memorial HS JAMES AIONO 6.3 yards per carry and 136.5 yards per JEREME BROOKS Defensive Line game … rushed for 238 yards in a win Wide Receiver 6-3, 245, Fr. over Scottsdale CC … Snow won the 5-9, 165, Fr. HS WSFL championship in 2006 and bowl HS West Valley City, Utah games in 2005 and 2006 … rated the No. League City, Texas Murray HS 79 JC recruit by Rivals.com … 2003 and Clear Creek HS First-team all-state and all-region as a 2004 all-state and all-region selection for First-team all-district as a junior and senior … won four letters in football Hunter High (Utah) … earned three let- senior … honorable mention all-state at Murray High School (Utah) … rated ters in football and basketball … Hunter … fi rst-team Texas Prepstar.com … the fourth-best prospect in the state was the 2003 state champion in both fi rst-team all-Galveston County … by Scout.com … son of Ta’aloga and football and basketball … son of Pete second-team all-Greater Houston Class Ali’itasi Aiono … brothers Toutasi and and Faulole Asiata … two brothers and 5A … 70 receptions led the greater Tailate and sisters Misiono and Lisa … two sisters … brother Shawn plays line- Houston area … 850 receiving yards (9 last name is pronounced i-oh-no … born backer and fullback for Snow College touchdowns) and over 1,000 all-purpose Jan. 23, 1989 in Orange County, Calif. … married to Tangi Atiga … daughter yards … three-time MVP of Clear Creek Ioana Faulole and son Matt … full name High School … also lettered in base- MATT ASIATA is Matthew Rentinai Asiata (pronounced ball … son of Warren Brooks and Judy Running Back ah-see-ah-ta) … born July 24, 1987 in James … brother Warren Jr. … name is 6-0, 235, Jr. Santa Ana, Calif. pronounced like Jeremy … born April JC 23, 1989. West Valley City, Utah Snow College 2006 junior college All-American was also fi rst-team all-Western States Foot- ball League … led the WSFL and Snow College in rushing with 1,365 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2006 … averaged www.UtahUtes.com 2 2007 UTAH FOOTBALL RECRUIT BIOS JOSH BROUGHTON LOUIS FINNER ROBERT JOHNSON Defensive Back Offensive Line Defensive Back 5-11, 185, Jr. 6-3, 289, Fr. 6-3, 176, So. JC HS JC Virginia Beach, Va. Plano, Texas Los Angeles, Calif. Citrus College Plano East HS L.A. Southwest College Two-time all-Western States Confer- Two-time all-state … Plano East High Honorable mention junior college ence cornerback for Citrus College … School’s (Texas) team captain and two- All-American in 2006 … also all-con- Citrus College won conference titles in time Offensive Lineman of the Year ference, all-district and all-state in ’06 both 2005 and 2006 … rated in the top … lettered in football and wrestling … … 96 total tackles, fi ve interceptions, 100 JC recruits by rivals.com … native 2007 academic all-district … son of two fumble recoveries and one forced of Virginia Beach, Va., graduated from Louis and Darlene Finner … one sister fumble for L.A. Southwest College … Walnut High School (Calif.) … named … full name is Louis Curtis Finner Jr. … also ran track for L.A. Southwest … all-Baseline League as a junior and born April 19, 1989. 21.65 clocking in 200 meters and 47.52 senior, and all-CIF as a senior … set in 400 meters … 6’8” high jumper … as school records for longest interception NAI FOTU a senior at Fremont High School (Calif.), return, longest fumble return and longest Defensive End he was named to L.A. Times 2005 all- play from the line of scrimmage … Wal- 6-1, 232, Fr. region team and its “top defensive back” nut High was the 2002 CIF runner-up … HS … 2005 defensive co-player of the year son of Latoia Broughton … mother is Laie, Hawaii in the Coliseum League … also lettered retired military and served in the Persian Kahuku HS in track and basketball … all-district Gulf War … brother Marcus … enjoys First-team all-state Honolulu Advertiser basketball player … son of Wanda and playing chess … full name is Joshua … second-team all-state Honolulu Star the late Wayne Johnson … three brothers Broughton (pronounced brah-ton) … Bulletin … 47 tackles, 11 tackles for and two sisters … brother Elijah is a born Nov.